Updated Aug. 11 with comment from Meritage Homes
Residential real estate developer Meritage Homes submitted preliminary plans to the city of Sugar Land for a single-family residential community with 157 lots.
The Sugar Land Planning and Zoning Commission approved a General Land Plan for a Meritage Homes Development Aug. 9.[/caption]The Sugar Land Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a General Land Plan for the development Aug. 9.
The community would be on the Howard Tract near the Riverstone development at Scenic Rivers Drive north of Cabrera Drive consisting of “attractive, well-maintained homes” and “clean, well-maintained, attractive lakes and waterways,” according to meeting documents.
Sugar Land City Planner Lauren Fehr said the Meritage land plan must be approved by Sugar Land City Council. She estimated that the item could be on the agenda next month.
Robert Moore, the director of land development for Meritage Homes Houston division, said the neighborhood has yet to be named, but the company plans to open the community at the end of 2017.
"We're in the early stages of figuring out what we're going to offer," he said. "But it'll probably be a lot like what we're doing in Riverstone North."
He said prices for homes are expected to be about $400,000 and over. Moore said the homes are designed to be energy efficient.
"We're targeting that buyer who is either a very advanced first-time buyer or a move-up buyer," he said.
The development spans 57.6 acres in an area that was annexed into the city in March. Single-family residential units would comprise of 40 acres with 4.7 acres of open space, 10.5 acres for a drainage system with lakes and detention ponds, and 2.4 acres designated for utilities.
The development would have its own Homeowners Association.
City Council approved the zoning for the property Aug. 2. Fehr said the overall approval process for the plan could be completed by the end of the year or later.
Moore said Meritage wanted to build in the area because it is a growing community and its zoning to Clements High School. The company would be building the homes adjacent to the houses its constructing in Riverstone.
"The buyers out here seemed to be very education focused and we saw a chance to get attractive land that is not just Fort Bend ISD, but Clements High School in Fort Bend ISD," Moore said. "We thought this is a great feature for the community."
In addition to the Meritage development plans, the commission also approved a final plat plan for Crown Garden at Imperial for a portion of a 335-lot single-family residential division consisting of 49 lots on just over 16 acres of land at Hwy. 6 and Imperial Boulevard.
“All of the Imperial [development] is still going pretty strong,” Fehr said. “We’re going to continue to see more of the Crown Garden subdivision. That’s barely even gotten started.”
